1 Kings 17:8-16 (NRSV)
Read 1 Kings 17:8-16 on biblegateway.com
Verse 8Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, Verse 9"Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you." Verse 10So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink." Verse 11As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." Verse 12But she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." Verse 13Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. Verse 14For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth." Verse 15She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. Verse 16The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.
Devotion
I admit that I don't care much for Elijah in this story. It seems rather obnoxious that he would ask someone who is already starving to feed him first, when she also has a son to feed. I want to shake him while asking, "Are you clueless? Read the room, man!" Then I realize that perhaps it's because Elijah has a better attitude than I do that he can be bold enough to ask for this favor. My natural tendency is to live life with an attitude of scarcity—a fear that there is only so much and that it will never be enough. It is through stories like this one, stories of people like Elijah who point to God's message of abundance, that I am reminded that God provides. Elijah was bold enough to ask, because Elijah's faith was strong enough to know these people would not go hungry.
Prayer
God of abundance, keep me mindful today of all the blessings you have given me. Give me an attitude of abundance so that I can boldly share what I have to further your kingdom here on earth. In Jesus' name. Amen.